Feeding Your Senior Cat

Nutritional changes can help your aging cat if you see signs of obesity, weight loss or dental problems.

Some say a cat becomes a senior at age 7, which corresponds to a human age of 50. However, cats can be healthy at 15 to 20-plus years of age, indicating they might not be considered seniors until they are 10-12 years old. The age when a cat becomes a senior varies widely, depending on the individual cat and its circumstances.

Veterinarians base dietary recommendations on a cat's physical condition. Nutritional changes help prevent the onset of degenerative diseases that can occur as a cat ages.

Many veterinary nutritionists agree healthy, active older cats in good physical condition do not need to change their adult maintenance diet. Many cats do well on these diets past 10 years of age. If you notice an energy change in the form of weight gain or loss, your cat may need a change in diet. Studies suggest weight gain is more likely in the senior years because older cats are less active and lose lean body mass.

The following are some reasons you may need to change your senior cat's diet:

Obesity: Obesity is probably one of the most common nutritional problems we see in senior cats. If your aging cat gains weight, a lower calorie diet may be appropriate. Take your cat for a physical examination to rule out other causes first. While young adult cats require 35 or more calories per pound of body weight per day, a senior cat may do well with 25-30 calories per pound. Senior cat foods tend to have a lower energy density and could be appropriate for an aging, overweight cat.

Weight loss: In the later senior years, weight loss rather than weight gain may occur. The reasons are complex, but should this happen, you might consider an energy-dense food containing higher amounts of readily digestible fat. The fat sources should contain adequate amounts of essential fatty acids. The tastiness of many fats may also improve appetite. A physical examination will rule out diseases such as cancer and hyperthyroidism that might cause weight loss.

Dental problems: If your cat's eating habits change, remember oral and dental diseases are common in older cats and may affect their ability to eat properly. Even the best cat foods may not help under these circumstances. As your cat ages, periodic dental check-ups will maintain oral and dental health. If your cat has irreversible dental problems, such as tooth loss, a change from dry to canned or soft-moist food might be necessary.

Dora -- Your vet will know the best food for your particular cat. What we can advise is to find a good quality cat food that has meat as the first (or first few) ingredients. This means fewer fillers and carbs, which cats don't need.

Dora New Port Richey, FL

7/19/2013 7:30:21 PM

My cat is sixteen years old and he stopped eating dry food, he used to eat dry and canned before. I been changing a lot of can food because he keeps vomiting. Which can food is better for senior cats?

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